np
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Terry Phillip
Curator of Reptiles
Black Hills Reptile Gardens
Rapid City, SD.
www.reptilegardens.com
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photo (western Brown constricting mouse)
taphillip
Sep 20, 2004 10:40 PM
Replies (4)
amadeus
Sep 21, 2004 09:45 AM
Question, because I am reptililian challenged, LOL....why is the snake constricting? I thought this species used venom to kill it's prey.
psilocybe
Sep 21, 2004 10:15 AM
There are a number of venomous species (including quite a few Aussie elapids) that use a combination of envenomation and constriction to kill their prey. The brown in the photo probably bit and envenomated the mouse prior to wrapping it up.
Greg Longhurst
Sep 21, 2004 04:57 PM
Several of the opistoglyphous (rear-fanged) snakes constrict. A couple that I am personally familiar with are the mussurana
(Clelia clelia) & the false water cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas).
~~Greg~~
Scott Eipper
Sep 22, 2004 08:25 AM
Amadeus,
Most Brown Snakes Pseudonaja sp. will constrict live prey. This is thought to occur as Pseudonaja have small fangs(even for an elapid, about 3mm in length)and the constriction allows for a good bite. Also most browns are fairly gracile in build in comparision to other Australian elapids so they don't have the strength in the jaw muscles to hang on to their prey alone unlike say a similar sized Mulga Snake.
One thing of note, I am yet to see a Victorian Brown Snake (In the South of their range) constrict its prey (either adult or juvenile).
Regards,
Scott Eipper
